The other day I went to the Apple store to buy the new MacBook that most everyone is going ga-ga over. So I buy the 2.4 model and something inside my head said that I should open and inspect the laptop before I began the 45 minute drive back home. So I opened the box in my car and I noticed a few small scratches on the backside of the laptop on the aluminum finish. I tried to see if they would rub out but they wouldn't. This was completely unacceptable to me so I went back inside the Apple store and I told them I wanted another one. That's when the manager came out, looked at the laptop and said that he didn't see anything wrong and that the scratch marks were part of the machining process. I couldn't believe it. so after arguing with him back and fourth for about ten minutes, he decided to cave in and exchange it for another one. he told me that the new one would be mine no matter what condition it would be in and that if I wanted to exchange it I would be paying the 10% restocking fee. I said whatever and waited until he came out with another one.

to my surprise, the second model was worse than the first one because it had scratches on the back, on the front and the battery tray area had a small nick in it. again, I couldn't believe it. I then told the manager to look at the laptop and once again, the moron didn't think there was anything wrong and he told me that Apple's quality control standards have always been very high. I then laughed at him and I said I wanted 100% of my money back. he then told me I'd be paying the 10% restocking fee which didn't go too well with me. once again, we bickered back and fourth until we both agreed on him giving me a third laptop to try. he then reassured me that this would be the last one no matter what.

so by then I was so tired I took the third laptop but I didn't open it until I got home. 45 minutes later, I opened the laptop and it had a couple small nick marks next to the battery indicator. again, I couldn't believe it. I find it so hard to believe that Apple would allow trash like this to leave their facilities and furthermore, I find it hard to believe that one of their store managers would find blemishes like these acceptable.

so now I get to drive down there again in the morning to get my money back. at this point, I'm willing to eat the 10% restocking fee just to wash my hands of this crap. I've owned three MacBook Pros now and all of them have been cosmetically perfect right out of the box. so this horsecrap with the store manager telling me these "machining marks" being a normal thing is flat outright insane. either that or Apple's quality control standards have really gone down the toilet.

WOW! thats unbieleveable. however, i would recomend trying to get full money back, and purchasing your macbook elsewhere. i am most likely guessing the store just recieved a "bad shipment" try ordering it online, or wait tell a best buy or other retailer stocks it.

That's horrible. I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. The manager saying no further exchanges will be given is completely unacceptable to make such a condition, what if it is defective hardwire wise?

That's horrible. I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. The manager saying no further exchanges will be given is completely unacceptable to make such a condition, what if it is defective hardwire wise?

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This isn't the first time I've read about people being told this. It's completely illegal and against policy, of course.

There is a chance that they actually might be a part of the machining process... Like, I'm sure you're smart enough to know the difference but the fact is, the milling process does leave small "scratches" where the drill contacts with the metal.

I think it would be a different story if the MacBook was actually defective if it was a hardware issue. but in this case, that isn't the issue. the issue is that these morons are thinking that I'm being too anal when it comes to what is and isn't acceptable when it comes to the appearance on their laptops.

to me, any blemish whether it be small or large, is completely unacceptable. after all, I'm paying 100% of Apple's asking price so therefore their product should be in 100% condition, not 95%.

you know, you do come off a bit of a jerk when you laugh in the face of managers.

just so you know

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and just so you know, I think you're full of it because I don't take that kind of crap from anyone. I always believed in being nice the first time and being very polite. but I also believe in taking a stand for myself and not take anyone's crap. push me in to a corner and I'll push back. after that, there's nothing more to say.

Apple's quality control died when they introduced the G3. Where have you been?

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I wasn't an Apple user back then so I wouldn't know how different their QC was in that era. I do know that all three MBPs I've purchased have all been flawless machines. two went to my two daughters and I've been using the third one since March of this year.

Also try emailing OCD@apple.com. And don't forget to diassemble your next one before you leave the store and check for dust on the motherboard. That would be totally unacceptable and illegal.

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My MacBook that I bought was in perfect condition from the day I got it. If it had so much as a scratch on it, I would have taken it back immediately. Not because I'm OCD, but because if I'm paying 100% for a product, it better be 100%.

no offense, as I first thought your posts were reasonable, but your later posts just make you seem to come off as a jerk. I can only imagine how you behaved in the store.

If a camera cannot even pick up the scratch......

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What if it is an older 1 MP camera? What if the scratches are the same color as the aluminum? My PowerBook has scratches and dents on it that look major up close and are, yet a 7 MB camera couldn't pick up unless you thoroughly zoomed in on the specific zone.

What if it is an older 1 MP camera? What if the scratches are the same color as the aluminum? My PowerBook has scratches and dents on it that look major up close and are, yet a 7 MB camera couldn't pick up unless you thoroughly zoomed in on the specific zone.

Please stop making these assumptions, they're completely inaccurate.

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I think personally that people are a little to concerned with the beauty of their products.

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